Last Week of April – Update

This last week of April I begin some new Family 1 Dog Classes with Cari Bowe of Shasta Dog Training on Monday and a Rally Obedience Class on Wednesday.
This Saturday is the Love Your Pet Expo and I look forward to offering AKC Canine Good Citizen testing for the public as well as doing a few demos with my dogs and having a booth. So please stop by and visit – Tell your friends – Bring a friend. All donations at the Expo go to local Animal Rescue groups. Visit www.LoveYourPetExpo.com

My Dog Training on the Move…

I am beginning a new phase in my dog training world. Monday, October 4th, will be my last class I am teaching at Petco.
I am now currently working and teaching dog classes at Shasta Dog Training & Pet Boarding with Cari Bowe. We are currently in the middle of teaching Puppy Classes and Family Dog Training Classes on Wednesday nights and a brand new “ARF” (Agility, Rally Obedience & Fun/Freestyle) class on Thursday nights.
Soon I will also be joining Susan and Ken Welch owners of Pro K9 Academy and the National Institute of Diabetic Alert Dogs. My primary job duties will be training up and coming service dogs in basic obedience for people with diabetes.
All I can say is WOW!
At the same time, I will be leaving some great friends at Petco… but since that is where I buy my pet supplies, I expect to stop in and say hello once in awhile.
I also look forward to continuing my work with various dog rescue groups and expanding my private training opportunities. I just renewed my AKC CGC evaluator registration so I will continue to offer Canine Good Citizenship Testing, Classes and the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program.
So… stay tuned for upcoming classes, training opportunities and more doggie stuff.

Paws-ibilities Unleashed – Celebrating the Dogs in Our Lives

Don’t Miss A Dog-Gone Good Time!
PAWSIBILITIES UNLEASHED “Celebrating the Dogs in Our Lives”
Flyball, Agility, Frisbee and other Dog Sport Demonstrations
Meet a Variety of Popular and Rare Breed Dogs
Find Out if Your Dog is a “Canine Good Citizen”
WHO:  Hooked on Dogs, K9 Kelts Dog Training and Shasta County’s Dog-Loving Community joins together at PAWSIBILITIES UNLEASHED and the AKC in Celebrating the Dogs in Our Lives and  AKC’s Responsible Dog Ownership Day.
WHAT: This Event is FREE to the public and for all dog enthusiasts:

  • Exciting and Informative Demonstrations: Flyball, Frisbee Dogs, Agility, Canine Freestyle (Doggie Dancing), Rally Obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizenship Test, Clicker Training, Search & Scent Games, Earth Dogs, Jack Russell Races, Schutzhund, Weight Pulling, plus various vendors, booths and other activities.
  • “Meet the Breeds”- Meet both popular and rare dog breeds
  • Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) testing – how well mannered is your dog? Take a 10-step test for AKC CGC certification
  • Chances to win Raffle Prizes

WHERE: Anderson River Park (Moose Grove), Anderson, CA
WHEN: Saturday, September 25th, 2010
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
All proceeds benefit S.A.F.E., a 501c3 Non Profit for Spay/Neuter Funds for Low-Income Families.

A Year in Review with K9 Kelts and Dog Trainer Kathy Dunn

I had my third year anniversary with Petco as a Dog Trainer this past October. I am the only Dog Trainer at our Petco facility and I can honestly say I get to go to work and play with dogs and meet all kinds of new people!
In March, the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation authorized retraining and education for me to attend the Animal Behavior College to become a Professional Dog Trainer (technically that is what I am at Petco). This will in the future open doors of opportunity for having either potential growth via Petco or branch out on my own a bit more. I finished the online and book learning in August
I began my externship with a Dog Training Mentor, Cari Bowe, in September. I finished phase one of three before the rains and the weather permitted anymore. I hope to finish the last two phases early spring.
I also hope to begin my volunteer requirements with the Shasta County Animal Control after the first of the year.
When my externship and volunteer phases are completed, I will then take my final exam.
I hope to continue with my dog training education in working with Shelter dogs and rehabilitating problem behavior dogs and dogs whom have aggression issues.
During the Spring/Summer of this past year I taught Agility classes for the Nor Cal Dog Training Club and had a great time. Also with the Nor Cal Dog Club and through my own dog training business, a few friends and I did some demonstrations at some local elementary schools in April and June. We did Obedience, Agility, Flyball and Tracking demos. It was lots of fun for the dogs, the kids and us!
I have also been busy doing demos or having informational booths at various “animal/dog” events in and around my community.
In April, I had an info booth and offered the AKC Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) testing for the annual “Love Your Pet Expo” a benefit for local animal rescue groups. My Shetland Sheepdog, Dani Joy, did some Agility and Flyball demos at this event and had a great time.
In May, I participated in the Haven Humane Society’s Dog-a-thon.
In August, I did some demos with 2 other dog trainers in the area, Lyn of River Dog Agility and Chere McMillan of the Capable Canine, at the Open House for the Wild Horse Sanctuary in Manton (near Shingletown east of Redding). Unfortunately, Dani Joy ended up with a foxtail embedded in her chest wall and had to have surgery as it was headed to the heart/lung cavity. Thankfully, she is doing great now.
Also in August, I had an informational booth with Petco at a fundraising event called “Woofstock” a benefit for a local animal rescue group.
In September, I coordinated a demo event for the Nor Cal Dog Training Club at the annual Honey Bee Festival in Palo Cedro where we did Agility, Rally Obedience, and Flyball demonstrations. My two Shelties, Patrick Ryan and Dani Joy, showed off their stuff in Flyball and Dani Joy got her picture in the Palo Cedro newspaper. My Italian Greyhound Skippy did some beginning Agility at the demo as well.
Also in September, I went to the 2nd Annual Chico Canine Carnival, a benefit for Animal rescues in Butte County. I offered the AKC CGC testing and my dogs did Flyball demos.
I was supposed to do some Flyball demos and some more AKC CGC testing for the Siskiyou Paws for Walk fundraising event that same month, but ended up coming down sick.
In October, I coordinated a dog-sport community event (sponsored by Nor Cal Dog Training Club) in Anderson called “Pawsibilities Unleashed” where we had numerous dog trainers, dog sporting activities and animal rescue groups putting on demonstrations, offering information and encouraging responsible dog ownership.
After that event ended, I resigned from the Nor Cal Dog Club. I am now also an inactive member with my flyball team the Gold Coast Flyers.
Still on the subject of dogs… over Memorial Day Weekend I traveled down to my dad’s home in El Dorado, CA and went to the “Hangtown Kennel Club’s Dog Show”. I had Patrick Ryan entered for 3 days in competition Rally Obedience (Rally “O” for short). He came home with 2 qualifying scores. He needed 3 to get a Rally Novice Title. Unfortunately, his owner (me) messed up – always “handler error” – and it was his best performance of the weekend. My dad and step-mom, Marti were there to cheer me on and take pictures.
In the second week of June, I went to a four day dog show in Gridley, CA and entered both Dani Joy and Patrick Ryan in Rally “O”. Dani Joy got her title in Rally Novice on the fourth day. Patrick Ryan got his Rally Novice on the first day and 2 qualifying scores on the 2nd and 3rd day, in Rally Advance. However, like the last show, Patrick did a “star” performance but once again – handler error! So we need another show to get his Title in Rally Advanced. I was still so very proud of them!
Patrick just turned 10 years old this past week. He is showing more of his age and he is losing a bit of his hearing. But he is still as smart as a whip. He is now learning new tricks and I am thinking of taking up the sport of Canine Freestyle (a.k.a. doggie dancing).
Dani Joy will be 7 years old in January and is still the jumping live wire as ever. Although she has mellowed just a touch, enough to focus more on commands and do her Rally “O” and a few tricks too!
Skippy got his AKC Canine Good Citizenship while we were at the Chico Canine Carnival in September, which is his first step in any kind of event. I hope next year to enter him into Rally “O”. By the way, he is finally potty-trained! Skippy will be 4 years old in March. He still has some behavioral issues to work through what other dog trainers like to call “resource guarding” he thinks EVERYTHING belongs to him, the living room, Dee, the cats, the toys, the yard, etc.
My private dog training business has been primarily focused on private lessons with one-on-one training with the dog and the dog owner. It has been challenging and very rewarding.
This year I created a new website and as you know this blog – just for my dog training business and all things dog… check out my website at:  www.k9keltsdogtraining.com

What to do with your dog?

So… you have a new Puppy, a new Dog, perhaps you found your new friend wandering the streets, picked her out at the Shelter, or rescued him from a local Rescue group… what’s next?
The best thing you can do for you, your dog, your family is take a dog training class!
But… you might say, “I have books I can read, I can watch dog trainers on TV, I can surf the net, what do I need a dog training class for?”
Well… I commend you if you have done all your research! Bravo! Your dog will love you for all the effort you are putting in to learning about your new canine friend.
Or… you might say, “I have owned dogs all my life and have never had any problems training my dogs in the past, what else is there?
Dog Training Classes offer a great opportunity for you and especially your dog or puppy to socialize and test their dog training skills in a variety of distractions. Will your dog come to you when it sees a squirrel or a cat running in his path? When you take your dog for a walk on a leash, does your dog pull, get in your way, trip you up, get distracted and yank your arm out of your socket? Is your dog friendly to strangers or other dogs? Does your dog jump on you, your friends, your family? Can you trust your dog to be gentle with children or the elderly? Does your dog bark, whine, howl? What about housetraining issues? Does your dog Trust You? Are you the “Leader of the Pack”?
These are the kinds of things besides just a simple sit, down, stay that you can learn in a book. What if your dog presents a challenge that you never imagined and no matter how many books or articles or tv shows you gather information from, you are still left with no answers?
Each and every dog, just like people (even twins) are unique and have unique personality, breed and temperament traits. There is not only ONE way to teach a dog. Experienced Dog Trainers have learned to have what is called the “Trainer’s Toolbox” a variety of ideas and training techniques that will fit your own dogs unique personality.
As a dog trainer, I can offer some ideas, training tips, and yes Dog Training Classes. Presently, I have some new classes beginning at the Petco in Redding, CA.
For Puppies that are 3 – 6 months, there are classes beginning Wednesday, October 28th @ 5:30 p.m.
For the Family dog that is 6 months and older, there are classes beginning Thursday, October 15th @ 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 28th @ 7:00 p.m.
For those who would love to do something a little more challenging and get an AKC Canine Good Citizenship Certificate, you can join the class that begins, Wednesday, October 15th @ 7:00 p.m.
Plus if you take a look at my website you will find more information about me, my dog training classes, free seminars and free 1/2 hour one-on-one private sessions.  K9 Kelts Family Dog Training.
I look forward to seeing you!